Next U.S. Ambassador joins Kuchma's necktie party
10/30/2002 | Peter Byrne
October 25, 2002
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
The recently authenticated voice recordings of Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, approving the sale of the “Kolchuga” aerial surveillance system to Iraq is of extreme concern to me and other members of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus. President Kuchma clearly expressed his intention to violate United Nations sanctions imposed on Iraq, and in doing so approved an effort to subvert the national interests of his country and its people.
The question of whether the Kolchuga system has actually been deployed in Iraq is an important one, however distinct. If you have not already done so, I strongly encourage you to receive the same briefings I have from your staff regarding the system's presence in Iraq. Regardless, the disposition of Ukraine's president in this matter is firmly established. It is upon this fact, that I hereinafter base my recommendation for your immediate consideration.
President Kuchma's consent to the sale of the Kolchuga system to Iraq is the epitome of reckless behavior. Its fulfillment directly threatens the lives of U.S. soldiers and those of our allies. Moreover, the date upon which the president's approving conversation was recorded coincides with his personal assurances of cooperation in non-proliferation issued directly to U.S. officials, including the President of the United States of America, and to me. This disappointing and unfortunate episode calls the Ukrainian leader's credibility into question and places his personal integrity within reproach.
Therefore, I urge you to insist that all U.S.-Ukraine dialogue throughout the November NATO Summit in Prague be strictly limited to ministerial-level meetings. To welcome Mr. Kuchma to the same table with the U.S. President and other democratic world leaders would understate the severity of the Kolchuga scandal. It would signal America's tolerance for those who have reinforced the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein and improved the lethality of his military architecture. Furthermore, it would undermine the objectives of authentic reformers in Ukraine who are today succeeding in their earnest struggle for a permanent, durable, and representative democracy.
As the strongest advocate for improved U.S.-Ukraine relations in the Congress, and as a long-time acquaintance of Kuchma's, I regretfully recommend Kuchma be denied state visits at Prague. President Kuchma’s approval of the Kolchuga sale, and the subsequent denials by him and his administration despite irrefutable evidence to the contrary, indicate he has no serious intention of rectifying the crisis he has created. His denial also threatens the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic community.
President George W. Bush
October 25, 2002
Page 2
In my capacity as co-chairman of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, I have been one of Congress’ most ardent supporters of Ukraine's integration with the West. My personal extensive interaction with the Ukrainian people, Ukrainian leaders and witnessing Ukraine’s impressive progress has convinced me the majority of Ukrainians support peace, democracy and free markets. However, it has become abundantly clear, the worthy goal of Ukrainian integration will remain in jeopardy so long as this and other issues overwhelm the Ukrainian president's agenda. Under the circumstances, isolation of the president and his associates, while improving relations with other Ukrainian officials, is the only logical diplomatic course for the United States. We must do all we can to avoid alienating the people of Ukraine or dampening their enthusiasm for a civil society and democratic reform.
Ukraine is vital to the long-term security of the United States and to our NATO allies. It is in America’s interest to support the people of Ukraine in their quest for permanent independence. Our government should further clarify its position by ending all foreign assistance funding to the central government, redirecting it toward grassroots democracy programs, small and medium enterprise development and health initiatives. One only needs to meet an average Ukrainian to know the return on this type of foreign aid investment will be tremendous.
Very truly yours,
Bob Schaffer
Member of Congress
from Colorado
cc:
The Vice-President
The Honorable Collin Powell
The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
The Honorable Joseph Biden
The Honorable Jesse Helms
The Honorable Henry Hyde
The Honorable Tom Lantos
The Honorable Jim Kolbe
The Honorable Marcy Kaptur
The Honorable Carlos Pascual
H.E. Kostyantyn Gryshchenko
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
The recently authenticated voice recordings of Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, approving the sale of the “Kolchuga” aerial surveillance system to Iraq is of extreme concern to me and other members of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus. President Kuchma clearly expressed his intention to violate United Nations sanctions imposed on Iraq, and in doing so approved an effort to subvert the national interests of his country and its people.
The question of whether the Kolchuga system has actually been deployed in Iraq is an important one, however distinct. If you have not already done so, I strongly encourage you to receive the same briefings I have from your staff regarding the system's presence in Iraq. Regardless, the disposition of Ukraine's president in this matter is firmly established. It is upon this fact, that I hereinafter base my recommendation for your immediate consideration.
President Kuchma's consent to the sale of the Kolchuga system to Iraq is the epitome of reckless behavior. Its fulfillment directly threatens the lives of U.S. soldiers and those of our allies. Moreover, the date upon which the president's approving conversation was recorded coincides with his personal assurances of cooperation in non-proliferation issued directly to U.S. officials, including the President of the United States of America, and to me. This disappointing and unfortunate episode calls the Ukrainian leader's credibility into question and places his personal integrity within reproach.
Therefore, I urge you to insist that all U.S.-Ukraine dialogue throughout the November NATO Summit in Prague be strictly limited to ministerial-level meetings. To welcome Mr. Kuchma to the same table with the U.S. President and other democratic world leaders would understate the severity of the Kolchuga scandal. It would signal America's tolerance for those who have reinforced the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein and improved the lethality of his military architecture. Furthermore, it would undermine the objectives of authentic reformers in Ukraine who are today succeeding in their earnest struggle for a permanent, durable, and representative democracy.
As the strongest advocate for improved U.S.-Ukraine relations in the Congress, and as a long-time acquaintance of Kuchma's, I regretfully recommend Kuchma be denied state visits at Prague. President Kuchma’s approval of the Kolchuga sale, and the subsequent denials by him and his administration despite irrefutable evidence to the contrary, indicate he has no serious intention of rectifying the crisis he has created. His denial also threatens the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic community.
President George W. Bush
October 25, 2002
Page 2
In my capacity as co-chairman of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, I have been one of Congress’ most ardent supporters of Ukraine's integration with the West. My personal extensive interaction with the Ukrainian people, Ukrainian leaders and witnessing Ukraine’s impressive progress has convinced me the majority of Ukrainians support peace, democracy and free markets. However, it has become abundantly clear, the worthy goal of Ukrainian integration will remain in jeopardy so long as this and other issues overwhelm the Ukrainian president's agenda. Under the circumstances, isolation of the president and his associates, while improving relations with other Ukrainian officials, is the only logical diplomatic course for the United States. We must do all we can to avoid alienating the people of Ukraine or dampening their enthusiasm for a civil society and democratic reform.
Ukraine is vital to the long-term security of the United States and to our NATO allies. It is in America’s interest to support the people of Ukraine in their quest for permanent independence. Our government should further clarify its position by ending all foreign assistance funding to the central government, redirecting it toward grassroots democracy programs, small and medium enterprise development and health initiatives. One only needs to meet an average Ukrainian to know the return on this type of foreign aid investment will be tremendous.
Very truly yours,
Bob Schaffer
Member of Congress
from Colorado
cc:
The Vice-President
The Honorable Collin Powell
The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
The Honorable Joseph Biden
The Honorable Jesse Helms
The Honorable Henry Hyde
The Honorable Tom Lantos
The Honorable Jim Kolbe
The Honorable Marcy Kaptur
The Honorable Carlos Pascual
H.E. Kostyantyn Gryshchenko
Відповіді
2002.10.30 | Влад
Re: Next U.S. Ambassador joins Kuchma's necktie party
Пора плакать2002.10.30 | I.Bandera
угу!
Давно пора нам усилить работу по усовершенствованию системы социальной защиты!2002.10.30 | Semen
Re: Next U.S. Ambassador joins Kuchma's necktie party
Пусть Schaffer поговорит с ИДИОТОМ Aslundhttp://www.pravda.com.ua/ru/archive/2002/october/30/1.shtml
...Конечно очень многое изменилось. К положительным изменениям я бы отнес тот факт, что иностранные инвесторы сейчас очень довольны ситуацией. Никогда лучше не было, очень много вопросов решилось, экономика идет вверх...
Скажем, до 2000 года они все время жаловались на разные проблемы, сейчас, последние два года они довольны. Что еще заметно – развивается мелкий бизнес. Многое меняется. Конечно, очевидно, как развивается строительство здесь в Киеве.
2002.10.30 | Peter Byrne
Re: Next U.S. Ambassador joins Kuchma's necktie party
give alsund a break. he goes way back to the hay day of soviet collapse.made a mint, tks to pascual for his kooky economic therapies for ukraine and russia.
but, yes - now he sounds just a old wind bag.
WHHOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH!
2002.10.30 | Kurakin
Re: Next U.S. Ambassador joins Kuchma's necktie party
Peter Byrne пише:> give alsund a break. he goes way back to the hay day of soviet collapse.
So do you. Hay Day? Is that for farmers?
>
> made a mint, tks to pascual for his kooky economic therapies for ukraine and russia.
He's not the only parasite here.
>
> but, yes - now he sounds just a old wind bag.
Ah, yes, character asassination is the preferred form of discourse.
>
> WHHOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH!
2002.10.30 | Peter Byrne
ass assinating characters
maybe the interview sounds better in english, dunno.just recall the harvard days when pascual was running the usaid shop and aslund was influential.
who signed the harvard university waiver to receive a non-competition usaid grant? hmmmmmmmmmm.
sachs and aslund were a great team. ukraine needs them now, more than ever. their views on the current mess are incredibly incisive.
WWWHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!
2002.10.30 | Peter Byrne
WHERE'S THE AIR BAG NOW?
29 June 2001http://www.kpnews.com/main/3116/
sorry, carlos!
Washington insiders remain divided on Pascual's chances for confirmation. Although many predict that he could be installed in Kyiv as early as in September, others hold that the Committee could postpone or simply kill the appointment by raising a ruckus over Pascual's past involvement in bungled U.S. assistance programs to the region.
[...]
In the 1980s, Pascual specialized in African affairs and worked as a project development officer for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Sudan, South Africa, and Mozambique.
After receiving a master's degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Pascual moved to the Bureau for Europe and the Newly Independent States at USAID, where he oversaw budget, policy and strategy formulation for annual U.S. assistance programs of more than $1 billion for the former Soviet states.
Citing 'foreign policy' considerations, in 1994 Pascual and Harvard-connected government officials, including then Undersecretary of Treasury Lawrence Summers, signed a waiver enabling the Harvard Institute for International Development (HIID) to receive $20 million for its Russian programs.
Approval of such a large sum as a noncompetitive 'amendment' to a much smaller original award of $2.1 million was highly unusual and became public knowledge in 1996 when the U.S. Government Accounting Office began investigating HIID's 'oversight role for a substantial portion of the Russian assistance program.'
Research fellow at George Washington University Janine Wedel, who mentioned the $20 million waiver in her best-selling book 'Collision and Collusion: The Strange Case of Western Aid to Eastern Europe 1989-1998,' also wrote that '[HIID] helped manage some $300 million in USAID grants to other contractors, such as the Big Six accounting firms and the public relations firm Burson Marsteller.'
Wedel wrote that 'in May 1997 [two HIID officials], who had played a huge role in U.S. policy to Russia, were fired by HIID when USAID revoked nearly $14 million of its commitments to HIID.'
The officials were dismissed following the release of the USAID inspector general's report that said the institute's employees had 'abused the trust of the U.S. government by using personal relationships ... for private gain.'
In January this year, Harvard University announced that it would close HIID after integrating some of its programs into Harvard's schools.
By the time U.S. agencies got around to investigating HIID, Pascual had joined the National Security Council (NSC), where he worked under Pifer, then senior director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasian affairs.
He then worked as the NSC's director for the region, and being Clinton's principal adviser on Ukraine, championed U.S. endeavors to assist economic reform in the country.
Pascual told senators June 21 he would 'reach out' to Ukrainians at the grassroots and assist efforts to promote openness, democracy, competition and freedom from the bottom up.
WHERE'S THE AIR BAG NOW?
2002.10.30 | Coltranefan
A politician for Ambo?
I am not sure that is the best solution for either Ukraine or the US.I am not familiar with his record. Has this guy done any real-life work lately, apart from flesh-pressing, baby-kissing, letter-writing etc.?